Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts - Night Seven

REPORTS from the Sheffield Arena as the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts visited Yorkshire in front of a record PDC crowd of 5,700 fans.

The Premier League Darts reached the half-way stage with four matches at the Sheffield Arena.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week Seven - Sheffield Arena
Wayne Mardle 8-5 Terry Jenkins
James Wade 8-5 Peter Manley
Raymond van Barneveld 8-2 Adrian Lewis
Phil Taylor 8-3 John Part

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WAYNE MARDLE 8-5 TERRY JENKINS

WAYNE MARDLE claimed his first win of the 2008 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts against Terry Jenkins in Sheffield.

Mardle had picked up just two draws in the opening six weeks of the event, before coming from 4-2 down to win 8-5 against last year's runner-up.

After going 2-0 down early on, a run of four straight legs for Mardle saw the game swing in his favour.

The Essex star punished costly misses from Jenkins with a 62 percent checkout ratio, and is now back in the race for play-off places.

"It's a confidence boost," he admitted. "It's taken seven weeks to get the win but tonight I put my doubles away.

"I didn't score particularly well and I finished well and made Terry pay for his mistakes."

It was Jenkins who took command early on as Mardle started slowly, opening with an 84 finish against the throw in the opening leg before doubling his lead on double four.

Mardle got off the mark in the third before a 12-darter put Jenkins 3-1 up.

The two traded the next two legs to restore Jenkins' two-leg lead at the break, only for Mardle to return in style.

He took four legs in a row, starting with finishes of 64 and 68 before he took the lead at 6-4.

Jenkins landed double 18 to halt the charge, but a double 18 finish saw Mardle move 7-5 up and he finally closed out victory on double top in the next.

Match Stats

Wayne Mardle	8-5	Terry Jenkins
15	100+	22
7	140+	7
2	180	2
29.56	Ave1	30.36
88.68	Ave3	91.08
3	LWAT	2
80	High Finish	84

JAMES WADE 8-5 PETER MANLEY

JAMES WADE picked up his fourth win of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with an 8-5 victory over Peter Manley.

In front of a record PDC crowd of 5,700 at the Sheffield Arena, Wade produced one of his most impressive displays of the competition to pick up his first win since week four.

He landed four maximums in the win, and also took out two key ton-plus finishes in seeing off Manley's plucky challenge.

Wade kicked off the game with a 138 checkout, and landed maximums in the next three legs - although Manley included 11-darter in holding his throw to be level at 2-2.

Wade won the fifth on double one before taking a 4-2 lead into the break with a 106 checkout.

He returned to open up a three-leg lead with a 14-darter before missed doubles allowed Manley back in to take the next two.

A key 180 left Wade a finish in the next, and he showed his delight at landing double ten to move 6-4 up.

That was quickly extended to 7-4 with another 14-darter before Manley took the next in 13 to stay in the contest.

But Wade sealed the win in the next on double ten to maintain his top-of-the-table challenge.

"I'm over the moon," said Wade. "Peter's a great player and very tough to play against.

"He's a grinder and a superb finisher, always ready to step in, so I'm grateful to beat him.

"The form I showed a few months ago is starting to come back and I'm really pleased with the first half of the Premier League."

Match Stats

James Wade	8-5	Peter Manley
17	100+	17
13	140+	12
4	180	1
32.53	Ave1	30.51
97.60	Ave3	91.53
2	LWAT	1
138,106	High Finish	96

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD v ADRIAN LEWIS

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD stormed back to winning ways in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with an 8-2 demolition of Adrian Lewis in Sheffield.

Van Barneveld was defeated 8-3 by Phil Taylor a week ago, but was back to his best to maintain his position at the head of the table.

He led 5-0 before Lewis got off the mark, but a poor finishing display from the youngster cost him dear as the Dutchman kept pace with James Wade at the top of the table.

Van Barneveld landed a 180 in taking the opening leg and secured an immediate break of throw with a 145 checkout in the next.

He took the next two after Lewis missed doubles and was 5-0 up before wasting his own chances in the sixth, the Stoke youngster landing double eight to get off the mark.

Lewis kicked off with seven perfect darts after the restart - hitting 177, 180 and treble 18 before the second effort at the same bed for a 144 finish missed its target.

Lewis took the leg in 11 darts, but misses in the next saw his fightback stutter, and van Barneveld took leg nine on double ten before punishing further misses to seal the victory.

"After losing to Phil last week I had a look at myself and knew I had to work hard this week," said van Barneveld. "I've practised every day and concentrated on my finishing, and that showed tonight.

"Adrian missed a lot of shots at a double but I was a little worried when he started coming back because I should have been 6-0 up at the break.

"I'm happy with the win and to be level top at half-way is very good."

Match Stats

R v Barneveld	8-2	Adrian Lewis
8	100+	11
9	140+	7
2	180	2
31.14	Ave1	29.21
93.42	Ave3	87.64
4	LWAT	1
145	High Finish	54

PHIL TAYLOR 8-3 JOHN PART

PHIL TAYLOR'S sensational return to form continued with an 8-3 victory against World Champion John Part in Sheffield.

Taylor whitewashed Wayne Mardle a fortnight ago before averaging 111 against Raymond van Barneveld in an 8-3 victory - a scoreline he repeated against Part.

Taylor's average was 'only' 107 against the Canadian, and included the night's highest checkout of 164, which was later followed by a 126 finish on the bull in sealing the win.

"I'm getting back to my best," admitted Taylor. "I'm dedicating myself and working hard in practice and it's coming together.

"John played well and put me under pressure, and I knew I had to take out the big finishes. I'm really chuffed with the performance."

Part hit maximums in the opening two legs, and took out 147 in the second to level.

The next two also went with the throw, before Taylor's 164 - of two treble 19s and the bullseye - saw him move 3-2 up and he then secured the game's opening break of throw on double top.

Taylor landed five perfect darts in leg seven as he took a 5-2 cushion before Part took out double eight to hit back.

He also kicked off the next with a maximum, only to see Taylor reply in kind to take out a 14-darter and move 7-3 up.

Even a fourth maximum from Part was not enough in the next, with Taylor hitting a 126 finish on the bullseye to seal another victory.

Match Stats